St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-11

H0NI
Bile. If it is a female that has died hel
cheeks are heavily rouged, and if the de,
ceased in life was not the owner of suffi,
cient jewelry to decorate her remains
with, friends and relatives are called
upon to furnish the desired amount.
If the weather is favorable the body is
laid out on a table that is placed in a
street or alley adjoining the late resi-
dence of the deceased, but covered from
sight with a large white cloth. Next to
the table holding the deceased is another
table covered with meat, candies, pre-
served cocoanut and ginger, together
with a liberal supply of Chinese wine
and brandy.
Among the funeral meats will always
be found a pig or a hog roasted whole,
the size of the porcine offering being
graded according to the age of the de-
ceased.
AS 500 as the body and feast are laid
out in state, the serious work of the pro-
fessional mourners commences. The
number of mourners varies according to
the social standing of the deceased in
life--from six to ten being the average
for an adult.
The mourners are dressed from head
to foot in white-the face and head being
hid from sight by a sort of hood, so that
one cannot tell whether the mourners
are male or female.
The first move is to gather round the
bier and chant a mournful dirge, not for
getting to extol the many virtues of the
departed. During this time they are 0 n
stantly moving around in a circle to pre-
vent any evil spirit from creeping in and
so getting possession of the body.
AS soon as the dirge is over the
musicians commence beating the gongs.
cymbals and tom-toms, the mourners
at the same time giving vent to groans.
screeches and bowls, varying the pro-
ceedings by beating themselves and
others with clenched fists, pulling their
hair and knocking their heads against
the adjoining building. They keep this
up until they work themselves into a
pCllCCl StdlC vi 4lCuLy, dlAu UoSCtlC1 VIII
the musicians make such an uprOal
monium had broken loose.
The object of beating the gongs, etc, is
to brighten the devils away. In the mean
time, every two or three minutes, hand
fuls of small pieces of paper are thrown
in the air, owe the body of the deceased.
so that if by any chance some of the
devils should get by the musicians and
mourners they would be frightened by
the pieces of paper, as they are supposed
to represent so many good spirits.
Then joss sticks, punk and incense are
kept burning. The mourning and racket
last for at least twenty-four hours.
The morning of the funeral the body
is taken from the bier, and after being
stripped of the ornaments and other
finery is placed in 8. coffin. A piece OF
money is placed in the hands of the de-
ceased, a written prayer or charm is
put in the mouth, and a bottle of wine OF
brandy, together with a liberal allowance
of food, is also inclosed in the coffin.
Then an express wagon is obtained and
the food and liquor are placed in
the wagon, and two or more men are
continually throwing joss papers in the
dlT uHtIl tHelI Uufy1HS ground Is
reached. Second in the line of the pro-
cession is a wagon filled with the hired
mourners, then the relatives and friends
follow, the deceased bringing up the rear,
with the exception of two men who are
detailed to follow behind and scatter loss
papers.
When the grave is reached the real
agony begins. The mourners redoublc
their efforts, and the musicians beat theil
gongs, etc, with all the power possible.
The coffin is lowered into the grave
another piece of money is placed on the
top of the coffin and the grave filled up
The money is for the purpose of payin'
the god of waters for rowing the de
ceased across the dark waters. It is sup.
posed that the god of waters will be sat
isf1ed by merely seeing the money n the
hands of the deceased.
The money on top the coffin is for the
benefit of the evil spirits. After the
grave is filled the eatables, sweetmeats
and liquor are placed OVERT, as the mere
sight of the food will appease the hun
ger of thu gods.